Francesca Turquet is Freshfields’ Chief Legal Officer, leading the firm’s legal department and overseeing all aspects of internal legal risk, regulatory compliance and governance across our global network. She acts as a senior adviser to firm leadership, helping to shape strategic decisions that support the firm’s long-term success.

Francesca brings over 20 years of legal and in-house expertise, with a career that spans London, New York and Amsterdam. Before joining Freshfields in 2025, she was a Partner of Eversheds Sutherland in their alternative legal services division, Konexo. Prior to that, she held senior in-house roles at Barclays, including Managing Director and Head of Regulatory Relations, America.

Known for her clarity, judgement and ability to lead through complexity, Francesca is focused on transforming the firm’s legal function into a forward-looking, commercial enabler of growth. Her aim is to ensure the legal team operates as a strategic partner to the business — proactive, globally coordinated and trusted at the highest levels.

Francesca is a long-standing advocate for inclusion and social mobility. She is a mentor to juniors in the profession and has long been an advocate for greater diversity and inclusion in the legal industry — previously founding a cross-sector women’s network to support and champion female professionals. She continues to support Freshfields’ responsible business efforts and is active in pro bono and community initiatives.